My name is Heidi Gaulke and am a fourth year student at Wartburg College.  I grew up in River Falls,Wisconsin.  River Falls is about thirty minutes east of the Twin Cities and is home to the famous Kinnickinnic River and to multiple recreational activities on the St. Croix River. My family consists of my mother, Wendy; father, Greg; and sister, Kayla. I enjoy spending time with my family during my breaks from school, reading Harry Potter, anything to do with sports (Go Badgers), shopping, running, and most importantly, outdoor activities. My family is extremely important in my life and have made me the person I am today.

COLLEGE

Attending Wartburg College has allowed me to become involved with  multiple campus activities which have led to the formation of life-long friendships. When first coming to Wartburg, I didn't know anyone. This encouraged me to meet new people and at times go out of my comfort  zone. Now looking back over my four years at Wartburg, I couldn't have been happier. Wartburg has allowed me to maintain my work ethic, enhance my communication and teamwork skills, and has allowed me to form friendships that have taught me more about myself as well.  Lastly, Wartburg has given me opportunities that I never would have experienced anywhere else. I have been lucky enough to be able to go to New York City for a week for class. This experience opened my eyes to a whole new world and forced me to think about my viewpoints in a new way. This May, I will get the opportunity to travel to Japan. During this trip, I will experience temples, Mt. Fuji, Sumo wrestling, and much more. I am excited to leave the United States for the first time and experience life in a whole new way.

CAREER GOALS                    

Upon my graduation in May 2008, I hope to return back home to Wisconsin or the Twin Cities pursing a career in a human resource related field.  Having direct interactions with my employees and allowing me to gain an understanding of who they are and what motivates them  is what attracts me to the human resource field, as well as being my own boss. Eventually, I plan on going back to school to obtain my MBA, hopefully at UW-Madison.